Mistakes in kicking game hurt Cabot

Do you ever wonder why coaches insist on talking about special teams when fans clamor for information about offense and defense?

If you were at Harmon Field on Friday, you understand why coaches include special teams when talking about the different phases of the game.

Fayetteville defeated Cabot 43-21 on Friday night in the season-opener behind four touchdown passes by senior quarterback Drake Lindsey, who connected with Charlie Graves for a 60-yard touchdown on the Bulldogs’ first offensive play from scrimmage. Jaison Delemar also caught two touchdown passes to give Fayetteville a 26-0 lead in the second quarter. Lindsey also threw 84 yards to Mason Spencer for a touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs were clearly the better team Friday and Cabot contributed to its demise with mistakes in punt formation that resulted in safeties for Fayetteville.

Not one.

Not two.

Three, all in the first quarter.

I’ve never seen that on any level — NFL, college, PeeWee — and I’m sure I’m not the only one. It’s especially surprising considering Cabot is a really good high school program with a veteran head coach. But Fayetteville was handed six points after high snaps and three safeties to help stake the Bulldogs to a 13-0 lead. Cabot’s fourth snap in punt formation was perfect but a booming kick was called back by a holding call. They finally got it right on the fifth try in punt formation.

Fayetteville increased its lead to 33-0 after Kaden Spencer scooped up a fumble and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown. Cabot, which finished 9-3 last season to 7-4 for Fayetteville, scored a touchdown just before halftime but that did nothing to change the outcome of the game.

“We played lights out,” Fayetteville senior defensive end Trey Lisle said. “I haven’t seen our defense play that well in a while. The first quarter, especially, was insane.”

So, Fayetteville is off to a tremendous start in its first game with the tri-level, multi-million dollar Sports, Wellness, & Academic Center in place behind the South end zone at Harmon Field. The final score will look good in the history book, but the Fayetteville coaches will make sure any celebrations will end quickly as the Bulldogs prepare for a tough road game at North Little Rock. Fayetteville will then face a third 7A-Central team, Fort Smith Northside, before beginning 7A-West Conference play at Bentonville West.

Safety measures were in place on a sweltering late August night with temperatures in the high 90s at kickoff. The first half lasted two hours and included occasional heat and hydration breaks. The heat Cabot felt came mostly from a Fayetteville defense that applied plenty of pressure whenever the Panther quarterbacks attempted to throw.

Fayetteville’s first play on offense was a blast from the past where current Razorback wide receiver Isaiah Sategna would take a short pass and use his speed to score a touchdown. Lindsey threw a short pass to Graves, who then made a diagonal move to the outside behind good blocking and raced down the home sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.

It’s not surprising Fayetteville’s first touchdown came on a pass.

It’s not surprising Fayetteville won the game.

The surprising part is the mistake from the Cabot punt team that resulted in a safety. Not one.

Not two.

Three, all in the first half.